Poultry basket water removal apparatus and method

Abstract

A method and apparatus for removing water from a package loaded open top basket having a bottom wall, end and side walls with numerous ribs, crevices and openings conducive to collecting water are based on using spaced apart pressurized air and vacuum sources operated so as to sequentially accumulate and move the water downwardly and to a location near a suction source on one side of the basket, then to a location near a suction source on the opposite side of the basket and finally by applying suction to the bottom of the basket.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method for removing water collected on the surfaces and in the crevices of a package loaded open top crate having a perforated bottom wall and end and side walls, said walls each being perforate and having numerous ribs, crevices and openings conducive to collecting and holding water discharged on said basket and its load while said basket is being transported on and loosely engaged with an endless open driven conveyor comprising; (a) at a first station proximate the trailing end of the conveyor directing a substantial volume of air at a substantial velocity from above and across the width of the basket to force water collected on packages in the basket and other water collected on the basket exposed to the flow of air to accumulate and move downwardly;   (b) at a second station located beyond said first station with respect to the direction of basket movement directing a substantial volume of air at a substantial velocity against a selected horizontally extending area of one side of the basket to force water collected on packages in said basket and on surfaces of said basket exposed to said air to move towards the opposite side and bottom of said basket;   
     
     
       (c) at a third station located beyond said second station with respect to the direction of basket movement establishing suction of substantial volume of air at a substantial velocity over a selected vertically extending portion of the opposite side of the basket so as to remove water collected on packages in said basket and on surfaces of said basket exposed to said suction; (d) at a fourth station located beyond said third station in the direction of movement directing a substantial volume of air at a substantial velocity against a selected horizontally extending portion of the opposite side of the basket to force water collected on packages in the basket and on surfaces of the basket to move towards said one side and bottom of said basket;   (e) at a fifth station located beyond said fourth station and in the direction of basket movement establishing suction of a substantial volume of air at a substantial velocity over a selected vertically extending area of opposite side of the basket to remove water collected on packages in said basket and on surfaces of said basket; and   (f) at a sixth station establishing suction of a substantial volume of air at a substantial velocity over a selected crosswise extending area of the basket on the bottom thereof to remove water collected on the bottom of packages in the basket and on surfaces at the bottom of said basket.   
     
     
       2. A method as claimed in claim 1 including tilting said basket immediately prior to conveying said basket on said conveyor. 
     
     
       3. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein said conveyor is inclined. 
     
     
       4. A method as claimed in claim 1 including engaging and conveying said basket on a second conveyor following said sixth station to positively withdraw said basket therefrom. 
     
     
       5. An apparatus for removing water collected on the surfaces and in the crevices of a package-loaded, open-top basket having a bottom wall, end and side walls, said walls each being perforate and having numerous ribs, crevices and openings conducive to collecting and holding water discharged on said basket and its load, comprising; (a) a first endless open driven conveyor having a pair of parallel belt members with means for loosely engaging and positively locating a basket being conveyed thereon and arranged for receiving incoming loaded baskets from a second conveyor;   (b) a first pressurized air source spanning the width of said conveyor with a horizontal outlet oriented to direct a substantial volume of air at a substantial velocity from above and across the width of a basket moving on said first conveyor to force water collected on packages in said basket and exposed to flow of said air and other water exposed to said air collected on said basket to accumulate and move downwardly;   (c) a second pressurized air source located adjacent to said first conveyor on one side thereof and beyond said first air source in the direction of basket movement and having an outlet located and shaped to project a substantial volume of air at a substantial velocity against a horizontally extending portion of one side of a basket moving on said first conveyor past said second source whereby to force water collected on packages in said basket and on surfaces of said basket exposed to air from said second source to move towards the opposite side and bottom of said basket;   (d) a first suction source located adjacent the opposite side of said conveyor and having an outlet located and shaped to suck a substantial volume of air at a substantial velocity past a vertically extending portion of the opposite side of a basket moving on said first conveyor past said suction source whereby to remove water collected on packages of said basket and on surfaces of said basket exposed to air being withdrawn through said first suction source;   (e) a third pressurized air source located adjacent said opposite side of said first conveyor but beyond said first suction source in the direction of basket movement and having an outlet located and shaped to project a substantial volume of air at a substantial velocity against a horizontally extending portion of said opposite side of a basket moving on said first conveyor past said third pressurized air source whereby to force water collected on packages in said basket and on surfaces of said basket exposed to air from said third source to move towards said one side and bottom of said basket;   (f) a second suction source located adjacent said one side of said conveyor but beyond said third pressurized air source in the direction of basket movement and having an outlet located and shaped to suck a substantial volume of air at a substantial velocity from a vertically extending portion of said one side of a basket moving on said first conveyor past said second suction source whereby to remove water collected on packages on said basket and on surfaces of said basket exposed to air withdrawn through said second suction source; and   (g) a third suction source spanning the width of said conveyor with a horizontal outlet oriented to suck a substantial volume of air at a substantial velocity from beneath and across the width of a basket moving on said first conveyor to remove water collected on packages in said basket and exposed to the flow of said air and other water exposed to said air collected on the bottom of said basket.   
     
     
       6. An apparatus as claimed in claim 5 wherein said first conveyor is inclined upwardly. 
     
     
       7. An apparatus as claimed in claim 5 including a second endless open driven conveyor of substantially less length than said first conveyor with means for loosely engaging and positively locating a basket being conveyed thereon and arranged to receive and positively withdraw each said basket from said third suction source. 
     
     
       8. An apparatus as claimed in claim 6 wherein the receiving end of said first conveyor is located so as to permit the forward end of each said basket received thereon to tilt downwardly and thereby induce water collected thereon to flow forwardly and towards the bottom of said basket before being fully engaged by said first conveyor.